Gun show blahs..

[ORNERY OAF]

Pards and pardettes, 

 

Went to the local fun show today.  Wow, what a let down. Very little reloading stuff, but sure plenty of ar and glock stuff....did see a stack of ZSR small pistol primers for 60 bucks per K..never seen them before but I read some reviews and they didn't seem favorable.  Also 1lb cans of titegroup for 35$ ...the rest was high priced as usual. 60 bucks forn1k almost had me on the primers, they only has small pistol. Anyone shoot these? Someone said they are harder that other primers.

[Forty Rod SASS 3935]

Gun shows have been a waste of my time for about the last five or six years.  Nothing I can get there that I can't find somewhere cheaper and with less BS to put up with.

[ORNERY OAF]

Used gun higher than getting a new one at some box store like cabelas, tragic 

[Hardpan Curmudgeon SASS #8967]

I haven't been to a gun show in over a dozen years.  For good reason, evidently - it seems that other than the more recent primer debacle, not much has changed... the only thing missing from the above descriptions are T-shirts and beef jerky.  

[Pat Riot]

I went to a gun show today in Washington County PA. It’s a decent sized show. Bigger than the ones I have gone to in WV.

I don’t know if these vendors haven’t heard that prices have gone down or they’re just daft but I was seeing gun powders, primers and brass priced high. Stupid high on the brass.
A buck a piece for once fired .308 Win.? Gimme a break. 
$60 on average for powder by the pound. There were some powders priced at $55. 

$110 for 1000 primers. 
I can get powder and primers for less at my LGS. I just bought 250 once fired 308 Win. cases for $67.50 including shipping from US Reloading Supply. 
I’ve been looking for a couple of different scopes. Nearly every table selling scopes had scopes out of the boxes just laying out on the tables willy-nilly. I’m not paying premium prices on scopes that go from show to show taken in and out of their boxes and handled like they’re sticks of firewood. 
I did buy a couple of .30 cal ammo cans in really nice shape for $8 a piece. I also got a 20mm ammo can that looked fairly new and unused for $25. That’ll keep the raccoons out of my peanuts that I feed my birds. 
I can’t get ammo cans at my LGS. 

 

I love going to gun shows, but these people need to pull their heads out of their keesters or one day they’ll have a trailer load of junk they can’t sell because nobody is going to be showing up. 
 

I saw several tables of used guns priced like they’re new. 
 

What gets me is hearing these vendors talking about how the internet is killing their business. They’re their own worst enemy. 

[Chantry]

Maybe there are still bargains at gun shows, but I haven't seen one in a long time.  Anything new or easily available used is cheaper online.

 

I'll go if I'm in the mood, but my expectations are low and I'm usually annoyed with myself when I do go.

[Old Man Graybeard]

Our local show by a club I am a member of, has been doing fairly well. The last few shows have been sold out with a waiting list. The gunshow director has done a very good job of weedind out the flea market stuff. It would be nice if we could get some vendors with more reloading stuff...but evidently there aren't a lot of those doing shows.We aren't the biggest show around...but the vendors seem to be happy and do well. I believe we have about 130 tables...and that is about max capacity of the building we use.

[bgavin]

What was missing from the OP's comments:  pay to park, and pay to get in.

The nice thing about the free market: it is self regulating.
When these sellers start losing their asses because they can't sell over priced goods, they will either come down or go broke.
This is a buyer's market and high priced sellers lose out.

[Rye Miles #13621]

There’s a small gun show here this weekend. I’ll just go to see what’s there and something to do. 
 Last time I was there a few months ago I sold an Uberti .357 that I really didn’t need. Lost a few bucks but thats okay.

Yea they’re pretty all black plastic guns and AR’s etc. There’s one guy that has a boatload of revolvers but he’s way too high!

Edited April 14 by Rye Miles #13621

[Warden Callaway]

Use to be a little show in a little town without a stop sign on the main drag.  Not big but mostly old guns. We would go. $5 to get in and free parking.  Mostly we'd run into old friends - some had tables. I didn't buy much but came away with a few impulse items. But the old guy that ran it died. His sons took over to complete dates he had booked. Then covid hit and they stopped all together. 

 

I've only went to a few shows in past 10 years. Nearly all were a waste of time and money.  Got tired of pushing my way through big galoots.  

[ORNERY OAF]

58 minutes ago, bgavin said:

What was missing from the OP's comments:  pay to park, and pay to get in.p

You're right bgavin, we get free parking but loose  10 bucks just getting in the joint...breaks my heart as I grew up going to gun shows, used to wait in anticipation of the gun show each month...now crap

[Forty Rod SASS 3935]

13 hours ago, Hardpan Curmudgeon SASS #8967 said:

I haven't been to a gun show in over a dozen years.  For good reason, evidently - it seems that other than the more recent primer debacle, not much has changed... the only thing missing from the above descriptions are T-shirts and beef jerky.  

How about camo bikinis and tactical toilet paper.......to name about 2% of the useless crap you can find.

[Pat Riot]

52 minutes ago, Warden Callaway said:

Got tired of pushing my way through big galoots.  

Same here. Nothing worse at a gun show than 3 big fat dudes wearing backpacks hanging together as they graze the gun show. You get 4 or 5 sets of those guys and you have a glacial event. 
 

Then there’s the inconsiderate d’bags that think it’s social hour at every row entrance and intersection. 
 

How about the guy with a large “Alice” pack and carry a long gun or two for sale? Every way he turns he’s banging people with his gear. 
 

One thing that just kills my lower back is shuffling slowly in a crowd of people. If I go back there for another show it will be when they open on Saturday or during church hours on Sunday. 
I like the small shows around me here in WV. Never too crowded and people actually have manners and pay attention to others around them. 

[Rye Miles #13621]

2 hours ago, Rye Miles #13621 said:

There’s a small gun show here this weekend. I’ll just go to see what’s there and something to do. 
 Last time I was there a few months ago I sold an Uberti .357 that I really didn’t need. Lost a few bucks but thats okay.

Yea they’re pretty all black plastic guns and AR’s etc. There’s one guy that has a boatload of revolvers but he’s way too high!

Just came back from this debacle! Wow did that suck big time! High prices galore! Small pistol primers $100/1000 r u kidding me??

[Larsen E. Pettifogger, SASS #32933]

OK, I let you guys throw down the gauntlet and I accepted the challenge.  Most of the time the biggest local gun shows are at the Phoenix Fair Grounds.  Usually $12.00 to park and $18.00 to get in.  They have sucked for almost a decade.  I usually write off the cost (for the few times I go anymore) as "entertainment or exercise."  This weekend there was a gun show at the Ben Avery Shooting Facility (the home of Winter Range and now EOT).  So, I figured what the heck.  Maybe it would not suck as bad as the ones at the fairgrounds.  $15.00 to get in BUT parking was free.  The prices were ASTOUNDING!  Junk that you can get off the Cabelas used gun racks for about 1/4 of what these guys were asking.  New guns were above MSRP and way above what you can get them for at local brick and mortar gun stores.  I figured at a minium I might pick up some magazines for a couple of guns.  Two to three times the price of what you can buy them for at Sportsman's or the LGS.  Total waste.  Not the least bit entertaining and not that much excercise as it was not very big.  You guys just made me waste $15.00.

Edited April 14 by Larsen E. Pettifogger, SASS #32933

[Chickasaw Bill SASS #70001]

well is just under 30 days , it sure ain't gonna be worth the time , fuel and entrance fee , to go to one 

 

 CB 

[Warden Callaway]

We found a couple of well stocked gun shops that had good selection and prices. With MidwayUSA and Grafs close, Starline and Missouri Bullets a little further out, gun shows really didn't offer much.

 

Missouri Gun Works,  Cabool Missouri. (One of three rooms)

 

[Badlands Bob #61228]

I quit going to gun shows about 10 years ago.  High prices and then having to pay to get in on top of that.  It's sort of like going to a tourist trap town and having to pay to park.    They want me to spend my money there but want to charge me to get in?  They don't carry the things I want at a reasonable price anyway.  

[Eyesa Horg]

They've gone the way of Flea Markets

[Rye Miles #13621]

16 minutes ago, Eyesa Horg said:

They've gone the way of Flea Markets

Yea but flea markets are usually free!

[Eyesa Horg]

2 minutes ago, Rye Miles #13621 said:

Yea but flea markets are usually free!

True! The prices have gotten stupid though and way too much new crap!

[Sgt. C.J. Sabre, SASS #46770]

1 hour ago, Eyesa Horg said:

They've gone the way of Flea Markets

 

1 hour ago, Rye Miles #13621 said:

Yea but flea markets are usually free!

 

1 hour ago, Eyesa Horg said:

True! The prices have gotten stupid though and way too much new crap!

And too many of the sellers of older stuff seem to think that they are Rare Antique Collectables. 

[Rye Miles #13621]

1 hour ago, Eyesa Horg said:

True! The prices have gotten stupid though and way too much new crap!

Agreed! Prices higher than gun shops and the one I was at today had more knives and T-shirts and food than guns!

[watab kid]

we have had a few here recently - i do not want to in any way dissuade them from putting hem on we have not had that much activity in years , i think there are two maybe putting them on  , im all in fabvor of it since the twin cities liberals shut down the better/bigger venues like the fairgrounds , what a bunch of BS , 

 

bad part of it is its getting to be half garage sale - crafts and food and imaginary items related to star wars and such , still a lot of guns but no bargains , some things are rip offs in my limited interest , but hety - you can eat jerky and stuff , but trinkets and also look at guns that are overpriced , some of them you can get hot dogs ...

[Cheatin Charlie]

I was at the gun show at Washington Pa. yesterday and not a whole lot to interest me.  I bought a pound of Unique powder for $50 because my local stores have not had any for ever.  If you are in driving distance and like old guns go to this show nest month. https://ohiocivilwarshow.com/wp/  it is like a history lesson on antique weapons and also for sale.  Free parking and low entrance fee.  I have been going for the last few years and always see guns I have only seen in magazines.  Well worth the trip and an enjoyable day.  Many building full of guns and paraphernalia and sometimes there is a cannon for sale!

 

A short video of what is there.  https://ohiocivilwarshow.com/wp/portfolio-view/video-format/

Edited April 15 by Cheatin Charlie
more words

[Marshal Dan Troop 70448]

Its gotten to were I don't even know without selling on one of the gun sites, what to ask for a firearm. Been thinking of selling my S&W Model 19-1 with original box and paper work, but the askings and final sales are all over the map. Some excessively over what I would ask.

[Perro Del Diablo]

Bad things about gunshows now is between an opposition based on belief by some, and now the scabs that want to price gouge. Both have made where if they continue most shows will not be able to continue. 

[Warden Callaway]

My observation is, many of the tables are there to snag guns coming in. I know a Winchester collector that sets up at shows to get rid of off non Winchester guns and items and buy any Winchesters that come buy. They get a place to set and watch the parade go by.

 

I've witnessed some really awful transactions at gun shows. One, an old guy comes in with one of the big frame Winchesters. I remember it was in 348 Winchester.  Best I could see it was in nice shape with pistol grip and checking.  Had to have been a deluxe.  First table.  "Hay, hay? What do you have there?" Old guy explained that he tried to give it to his grandson but he didn't want that old gun that kicked so hard. So he wanted to sale it to get something the kid wanted. (Broke my heart.) They talked for a bit. Table guy said it was only worth $500. Old guy was hesitant.  Guy at another table came over to double gang the old guy. This guy confirms $500 was a good deal. "Well, ok." The old guy said. 

[Dubious Don #56333]

2 hours ago, Marshal Dan Troop 70448 said:

Its gotten to were I don't even know without selling on one of the gun sites, what to ask for a firearm. Been thinking of selling my S&W Model 19-1 with original box and paper work, but the askings and final sales are all over the map. Some excessively over what I would ask.

 

New ones are going for 900. Vintage S&W Iron's been bringing a premium for quite a while. Round here prices I've seen (that actually sell) and what's online, yours because it's a dash-1 might bring a tad more. Or not. Depends. (<<--Standard Advice Disclaimer)But I 'spect you knew that already.

Range would be from 900- to 1500.

[Marshal Dan Troop 70448]

32 minutes ago, Dubious Don #56333 said:

 

New ones are going for 900. Vintage S&W Iron's been bringing a premium for quite a while. Round here prices I've seen (that actually sell) and what's online, yours because it's a dash-1 might bring a tad more. Or not. Depends. (<<--Standard Advice Disclaimer)But I 'spect you knew that already.

Range would be from 900- to 1500.

Thanks. Its the range I seen though was surprised one I was following sold for 1800.00. More then what I would ever ask for. I sold a nickle plate Model 19-4 couple months back for 1000.00. But that was the average. This one, the 19-1 I have seen past couple months all over the place. A beat up one went for 800.00 with the grips replaced, and scarred up bluing.  I use to use GunBroker as a reference for selling, but lately some have tons of cash and ridiculous asking to open.

[Rye Miles #13621]

6 hours ago, Cheatin Charlie said:

I was at the gun show at Washington Pa. yesterday and not a whole lot to interest me.  I bought a pound of Unique powder for $50 because my local stores have not had any for ever.  If you are in driving distance and like old guns go to this show nest month. https://ohiocivilwarshow.com/wp/  it is like a history lesson on antique weapons and also for sale.  Free parking and low entrance fee.  I have been going for the last few years and always see guns I have only seen in magazines.  Well worth the trip and an enjoyable day.  Many building full of guns and paraphernalia and sometimes there is a cannon for sale!

 

A short video of what is there.  https://ohiocivilwarshow.com/wp/portfolio-view/video-format/

 

5 hours ago, Marshal Dan Troop 70448 said:

Its gotten to were I don't even know without selling on one of the gun sites, what to ask for a firearm. Been thinking of selling my S&W Model 19-1 with original box and paper work, but the askings and final sales are all over the map. Some excessively over what I would ask.

I paid $900 for a brand new Model 19 so you can go from there. In good condition it's worth at least $900. That's my guess.

[DeaconKC]

At my LGS, our regular customers will come by after going to the local shows. We are quite entertained by the reports of their hunting at the shows. Usually not any true bargains, but the occasional nugget shows up.

[Bitterroot Jake, SASS #9532]

I've been to about six local gun shows in the psst year.  Usually alot of ARs and Glocks. They also have quite a few S&W and Colt revolvers, all priced too high in my opinion.  But there is one regular who normally has some Colt SAAs and vintage  Winchester lever gun.  These are priced about what I have found to be normal for these guns else where.

 

I usually go to these just for something to do on a rainy Saturday afternoon.  But the last two were a little different, and. The first I picked up a Marlin Cowboy Limited in 44-40 and at the second I snagged a nice Marlin 1893 in 38-55.  The 1894 I got for about what I've seen them go for here on the SASS classifieds and the 1893 for a lot less than the 1894.  Both in excellent conditions.  In fact the 44-40 in probably in 98% like new.  The 38-55 has been refinished, very well done and the bore is mint.  

 

Parking is free at these shows and $10 get on. all in all I have  done pretty good at these shows  lately.  I also picked several hundred once fired Winchester AA hulls cheap  and several boxes of Winchester 150 gr .308 ammo for less than $20 a box

[Rye Miles #13621]

There’s only one show I really like here. It’s held on the Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds. Free parking, $8.00 admission. There’s 4 buildings and I’ve got some good deals there. 
The only bad thing is the parking, although it’s free it’s on grass and can get really messy and muddy. 

Edited April 16 by Rye Miles #13621

[Cypress Sun]

 

If I have to pay for parking...they can kiss my...they can forget me ever attending their show.

Bad enough that I have to pay $10 for a "gun shot" that features an  average of 50%, or less, firearms. The rest being jerky, overpriced ammo, gun cases, supposedly precious metals, bumper stickers/hats/etc., magazines of every normal kind except for the ones need and...for some reason, miracle eyeglass cleaning solution complete with glasses.